Col. Gutti cleared
FORMER UPDF fourth division commander Col. Andrew Gutti has been cleared of charges of creating ghost soldiers on the army payroll.
FORMER UPDF fourth division commander Col. Andrew Gutti has been cleared of charges of creating ghost soldiers on the army payroll, reports Maurice Okore.
Gutti, who always insisted that he was innocent, was freed yesterday by the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen Elly Tumwine, after the UPDF withdrew the charges, without giving any reason.
“You are now free to enjoy your life as a citizen of Uganda because the Government has withdrawn the charges against you. But please avoid trouble while on duty because I would not like to see you back in this court,†Tumwine told Gutti.
Gutti’s lawyer, Lawrence Tumwesigye, expressed his delight at the withdrawal of the charges saying, “My client has never been guilty of committing any offence. It is good that the State realised that its evidence was not credible.â€
Gutti remained tight-lipped on his exoneration and on whether he expected to be deployed. He referred the press to army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza.
Gutti was among 20 senior UPDF officers who were court martialled for allegedly swindling more than a billion shillings. The rest are still on trial.
Among the notable officers charged were brigadiers Henry Tumukunde, Nakibus Lakara and Stephen Kashaka and Col. Mark Kodili, former chief of personnel and administration.
Prosecution led by Sam Sserwanga of Katende and Ssempebwa Company Advocates had alleged that Gutti, who was based in Gulu, swindled sh30m meant for UPDF support forces in northern Uganda between April 2002 and May 2003.
Gutti, who always insisted that he was innocent, was freed yesterday by the General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen Elly Tumwine, after the UPDF withdrew the charges, without giving any reason.
“You are now free to enjoy your life as a citizen of Uganda because the Government has withdrawn the charges against you. But please avoid trouble while on duty because I would not like to see you back in this court,†Tumwine told Gutti.
Gutti’s lawyer, Lawrence Tumwesigye, expressed his delight at the withdrawal of the charges saying, “My client has never been guilty of committing any offence. It is good that the State realised that its evidence was not credible.â€
Gutti remained tight-lipped on his exoneration and on whether he expected to be deployed. He referred the press to army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza.
Gutti was among 20 senior UPDF officers who were court martialled for allegedly swindling more than a billion shillings. The rest are still on trial.
Among the notable officers charged were brigadiers Henry Tumukunde, Nakibus Lakara and Stephen Kashaka and Col. Mark Kodili, former chief of personnel and administration.
Prosecution led by Sam Sserwanga of Katende and Ssempebwa Company Advocates had alleged that Gutti, who was based in Gulu, swindled sh30m meant for UPDF support forces in northern Uganda between April 2002 and May 2003.